How a First-Time Filmmaker Raised Over $100k on Kickstarter for an Unconventional Film

So many incredible things are possible now that weren’t possible just a few years ago. Technology and online social platforms are changing lives giving life to interesting new creative projects that gatekeepers of the old guard would have denied.

How exactly does a first-time filmmaker raise over $100,000 from thousands of individual new fans for an unconventional and touching documentary about complacency and the choices we make in life?

That’s exactly what Adam Baker and Grant Peelle and team have done over the past few weeks. Their new documentary I’m Fine Thanks has attracted over 4,000 individual backers and has raised more than their goal of $100k on Kickstarter.

Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter are making it possible for anyone with a compelling story and drive to create something interesting to get their dream projects funded by true fans and generous strangers.

In this interview I shot with Adam Baker, you’ll find out: how they put this project together, why they decided to shoot a documentary (and travel the country making it), and exactly how they crafted the campaign that raised over $100,000.

Finally, I’d love to know your answers in the comments below to a few questions:

Do you think crowdsourcing platforms like Kickstarter are long-term game-changers or more of a short-term fad?

What do you think are the most important aspects of getting a project funded on Kickstarter right now?

What did you think of Adam’s story and experience as a first-time filmmaker and the trailer for the film?

Written by Corbett Barr. Corbett is cofounder of Fizzle, a place for creative entrepreneurs, writers, makers, coders and artists, all working to support themselves doing what they love independently on the Internet. Follow Corbett on on Twitter.

It’s amazing what can be done there days on the internet. Kickstarter is an amazing platform to get a project funded and it’s nice to see people successfully meeting their funding goals and launching new businesses and lifestyle changes.

Congrats to Baker and his crew!

I did notice that Seth Godin is launching a book on there as well as has already raised over $200,000. I’ve seen more and more already well backed and funded projects reach out to the kickstarter community to reach their ultimate funding goal. I hope it can remain a place where “little guys” can raise much needed capital for their projects.

I love what you’re doing here at Think Traffic by the way… keep it up!

I think Kickstarter is a long term deal, it just proves once again how the internet is making business a slightly more level playing field.

In terms of having a project funded, it’s all about relaying a message that people believe and see value in. Clearly Adam and his crew demonstrated that.

What inspires me is how someone like Adam tries to do something that’s way out of his comfort zone. I can only speak for myself, but doing “hi tech” golf lessons is way out of my comfort zone but has been greatly received by my customers.

Well, it never hurts to have a large and faithful tribe – that is my big lesson of the month/week. Seth Godin has an awesome campaign right now as well and it is no surprise that it was fully funded in about 3 hours. Sometimes it is still about who you know – sorry if this sounds harsh and I don’t remember the numbers, but I think only about 50% of campaigns are successful…

Being one of the folks fortunate enough to meet and spend time with the I’m Fine crew during filming, my opinion may be skewed BUT….

The vision, process, and energy behind this entire project has been truly something to behold. By the time they interviewed our family, we were right towards the end, the entire crew was extremely professional and none of us even once thought they were “first-time” filmmakers…a fact I just learned in your interview. Thanks

Kickstarter (and other crowd-sourcing) will do nothing but grow as we continue to develop a true world without borders or boardrooms.

I am really excited about this movie! Really impressed how well it did on Kickstarter. I think Kickstarter has a lot of potential for people doing similar things and am definitely going to try it out myself sometime!

It’s amazing what was accomplished on kickstarter, and I think alot of people can learn a lesson from this type of project funding, especially nonprofits. It’s time to break the mold and take your ideas to the people. I think there are enough like minded, tech savvy, philanthropic people out there willing to open their pocketbooks to help real people achieve their goals – especially when they’re able to tell a good story. Great Article.

It had to have helped that he had some popular bloggers behind to help promote his Kickstarter campaign (Pat Flynn, JD Roth) – bloggers that are most likely not accessible to “Joe Creative” off the street.

Of course it did Lonnie, but how do you think Baker got those bloggers to promote the film? Three years ago Baker was just “joe creative” off the street too, with no audience and no connections. He worked hard to build a reputation long before he needed it for this project. Kickstarter isn’t magic, but it will amplify the message and reach you come to it with.

For those budding developers who want to make their own “Kickstarter-like” websites and receive funding for their own projects – i just wrote an article for WPMU.org about a plugin that gives your wordpress site that functionality. Thought the readers of this post might be interested in it.

Cannot wait to see Adam’s film! So full of inspiring people and messages.

Kickstarter has completely changed the game of arts funding for good. And thank the multiverse is all I can say. As an arts worker years ago, you had to fight for scraps from limited funding sources (usually from the government). I saw so many talented artists (including myself) fall by the wayside because they just couldn’t make ends meet.

Now, if you have a compelling message or an inspiring idea and work hard to spread your mission, Kickstarter can help make it happen. It’s not the be and end all, but it sure does help. You still need to create “epic shit” or no-one will give a damn.

As others have pointed out, Adam has an amazing network of people that helped shape his film and leverage his message. But he and all other pre-bloggers work damn hard over many years to form these networks. Overnight success in any arena is a myth.

Its relatively easy tactic here. Builda loyal fan base – help them as much as you could and tell them what you need in return. Adam started 3 years ago adn did the best he could do to build a good fan base and today he is reaping the profit.

When I first read about Adam Baker’s film and saw the inspiring trailer I contacted Adam to say his film backed up what I had been doing for the last 6 years over here in the UK.

Encouraged by friend I wrote down my experience in a book called The Job Delusion. I self published it on Amazon Kindle but without a marketing plan or a blog with thousands of subscribers it is hard to get it found.